Sinai Temple () is a Reform Jewish synagogue located at 1100 Dickinson Street, in Springfield, Massachusetts, in the United States.
Founded in 1931, Sinai was the first Reform congregation in Springfield. The congregation's first rabbi, David M. Eichhorn, was hired in 1932 and let go just two years later due to financial difficulty brought on by the Great Depression, though he went on to become a prominent American rabbi and authority on interfaith marriage and conversion for the Reform movement.
History The congregation began meeting at a mansion at 188 Sumner Avenue in Springfield in 1932, which was used as a synagogue until the late 1940s. In 1949 Sinai broke ground on a new location at 1100 Dickinson Street, near the Longmeadow border, which was completed in 1950.
Notably, Sinai has had two long-tenured rabbis: Herman E. Snyder (1947–1970) and Mark D. Shapiro (1988–2016). Membership grew from 50 to 500 families under Rabbi Snyder's leadership. An interfaith leader, he created the Sinai Temple Institute for Christian and Muslim Clergy and Educators, an annual learning session that brings together clergy from the three major religions for a seminar at the Temple.
Rabbi Snyder's successor, Bernard Cohen, was the first rabbi to serve on the faculty of a Roman Catholic college (Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College). His 1970 installation was attended by 100 Catholic and Protestant clergymen.
Rabbinical leaders OrdinalNameYearsNotes David M. Eichhorn 1932–1934 Judah Cohn 1937-1943 Hershel Levin 1943-1947 Herman E. Snyder 1947–1970 Emeritus: 1970–1992 Bernard M. Cohen 1970–1971 interim Stanley Davids 1971–1977 Howard Kaplansky 1977–1983 Jerome S. Gurland 1983 interim Bernard Bloomstone 1983–1988 Mark D. Shapiro 1988–2016 Emeritus: 2016–2020 Howard Kosovske 2016–2018 interim Jeremy Master 2018–present
Notable members Eric Lesser, Massachusetts State Senator
See also
History of the Jews in the United States
References
External links